ROM Hack Rhythm Tengoku Translation - Rhythm Heaven Silver

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Rhythm Heaven is a series of games from Nintendo and SPD Group 1. The game is full of odd situations. Players tap-dance with monkeys, steal cheese as a mouse, play in an outer-space home-run derby, and so on. The Rhythm Heaven gameplay is simple: press buttons in time with the background music. There's nothing quite like Rhythm Heaven, but games like Guitar Hero are in the same basic genre.

Gameplay video 1
Gameplay video 2
Gameplay video 3
Gameplay video 4 with commentary (Wii version)

Rhythm Tengoku ("Rhythm Heaven") is the first game in the series. It came out in Japan in 2006, but never made it anywhere else. Its two sequels have been translated and released overseas, but Tengoku never was.

By the time Rhythm Tengoku launched in Japan, the Nintendo DS had been around for ages. It was too late to introduce the game for American and European markets.

The fact that it was a weird, brand-new series couldn't have helped.

Since 2007, various fans have tried to translate this game. Thankfully, our team has finished the text translation. We now have a hacker and graphics artist working to translate any Japanese graphics to English.

The title of this hack is Rhythm Heaven Silver. Why Silver? In short, because this game's sequel was called Rhythm Heaven Gold in Japan. The name also had zero Google results before this project started.

Is the translation done yet?

• Every bit of text in this game is now translated and ready to play.
• 95% of the Japanese graphics have been edited to English.
• 85% of the Japanese graphics are fully complete and very high-quality. The remaining 10% needs some work (spacing).
• You can download our latest release here.
• We have the ability to edit Japanese sounds into English and will start doing so shortly.

Hasn't this already been done in English?

• No. Rhythm Heaven DS and Rhythm Heaven Wii are sequels to this game.

Why translate this? You can understand how to play without knowing Japanese.

• True, but the text is often funny.
• Other highlights include:
  • 18 emails, several paragraphs each, are now readable.
  • The studio has English songs. Now you can easily find the song you want.
  • It's easier for first-time players to understand how to play the game.
  • The Rap Men's (text-based) rap is no longer in Japanese.

When will the translation be done?

• The text translation (mini-games, emails, etc.) is done.
• The Japanese graphics have mostly been translated to English.
• We want to see this project done as much as you do.

What will be included in the final patch?

• English translations for all regular text.
• Edited main menu and other graphics to be English.
• Edited graphics for introductions of mini-games.
• Edited sound cues for games like "Marcher" ("Turn right", "turn left"...)

What will not be included in the final patch?

• New voice work to replace Japanese-language songs in games like The Bon*Odori, Remix 3, and Remix 5. We doubt that a fan-made dub could match the quality of the original Japanese soundtrack.

1. Support the Franchise

1. Buy the game. Rhythm Tengoku is expensive, but you need it in order to play the translation hack. The game costs around $40-$60, it seems.
2. Buy Rhythm Heaven (DS) and Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii). Both are still sold cheaply (around $10 each for the DS and Wii games).
3. Register the DS game and Wii game on your region's Club Nintendo website. Take 10 minutes and fill out the surveys for it, and mention how much you like Rhythm Heaven and wish Rhythm Tengoku would come to America / Europe, even as an untranslated digital download on the 3DS or Wii/Wii U eShop. If you like the games, let Nintendo know!

2. Patch Your Game

1. Legally back up your cartridge using GBA Backup Tool.
2. Download the latest patch.
3. Keep an unmodified backup of Rhythm Tengoku.gba. Each new patch will require an unmodified ROM.
4. Patch the ROM with Lunar IPS or a similar IPS patcher. Your ROM is now in English.

3. Play the Game

1. Use a GBA flashcart or slot-2 expansion pack for DS to play the game. Emulators can be used, but be aware that all emulators have slight slowdown. Play it on a real DS or GBA if you can. It's absolutely worth it.
2. If you're using an emulator, we recommend making the D-Pad controllable with your left hand and the A/B Buttons controllable with your right hand (like you were playing a real GBA). The game assumes you play in this way.
3. (Optional) Configure your flashcart / emulator to use a completed save file.
4. If you still wish to play the game with Japanese text, keep an unmodified ROM on your flashcart or computer.
5. This guide might be helpful if you don't understand a mini-game.

You can try these emulators:

Windows: VBA-M // VBA // no$gba
Linux: mednafen // VBA-M
OSX: VBA // VBA-M

*These quotes were written about the untranslated version of Rhythm Tengoku.

If I had to be cast away on a deserted island with but a single game for my Nintendo DS, I would have to opt for the fat little imported Gameboy Advance nugget that is Rhythm Tengoku. Niero Gonzalez, Destructoid.com

But it would be a shame for Western gamers to be denied the game -- Rhythm Heaven feels as fresh and imaginative as the original WarioWare did three years before, and it features a superb soundtrack. Jeremy Parish, 1up.com

You'd think that the minigames would have trouble holding your interest with such basic gameplay, but this is one of the most addictive titles we've ever seen. Nintendo Power

Even with the language barrier, this is a highly recommended GBA import. Craig Harris, IGN.com

Famitsu review scores: three 9/10s and one 7/10.

...the best Game Boy Advance game that you haven't played. Chris Kohler, Game|Life (Wired.com)

Well, what are you waiting for?